Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, just as the current affirmative action policy applies, so too will the Indigenous employment policy apply. And, Mr. Speaker, I can say anecdotally we do find that the bigger challenge is really bringing in students. We find often that students begin to go down the process and accept jobs more quickly than we can get to them. So it's more often than not that the students that are utilizing this are all getting scooped up which is, again, a good problem for us to have. We are looking, therefore, to have individuals who are members of the First Nations...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, we do get regular updates with respect to progress on GRI which at this point was involving the different -- different programs chosen by each department. We are providing training and supports through MBS over in fiscal -- our fiscal division over to departments to do that evaluation work in an ongoing way. And, yes, then that information goes through reviews is supposed to come back, each program evaluation comes back to the financial management board, Cabinet, and certainly happy to ensure that that's getting shared regularly. I believe it is getting...

I'll direct it to the deputy minister, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, appreciate the question. It won't necessarily show up as a line item here. The list of things that are being done within the GNWT right now to support carbon neutrality and environmental and climate change related initiatives are across departments, and so they wouldn't just show up right directly underneath this line item, but I can give some examples thereof.

We do have, for example, the cumulative impact monitoring that comes in around $3 million. Alternative and renewable energy programs and alternative technologies program as in and around just over nearing...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not going to make a commitment right now on the fly without, you know, a bit more discussion, but, again, happy to take back comments or suggestions that are going to come from the review. Again, I gather that is now underway. The Legislative Assembly's responsible for it. We can bring forward recommendations. It is something that is managed under the fiscal -- or the Department of Finance but is one that I know is of interest, and there are public obligations here, so before any significant changes would be made. So, again, happy to see what committee reports back...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't have a detail, I don't believe, in terms of what -- like, specifically the kind of remediation that would be involved, like, the -- you know, for example, I know if it's -- yes, the specific type of remediation activity itself. Can certainly -- because that would be a lead that would sit over with ECC so happy to take that away and can provide a follow-up. The liability that we book is an estimate of what the cost would be but not necessarily the experts in the Department of Finance that determine what the remediation costs itself would be, simply what we are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, there is -- there's some very specific efforts already underway. Larger centres already had, in some cases, the capacity to move this forward. I will certainly be more than happy to bring back the suggestion that this go back to Council of Leaders if it hasn't already.

Mr. Speaker, there is some work, indeed, underway already in Fort Simpson and in Inuvik as well as Hay River. So, you know, again, happy to take this back and suggest that Council of Leaders be engaged, again, if they're not and to ensure that report is brought back to Members on that...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I probably will turn that one to the deputy minister for some detail. There wouldn't be added cost, at least not anticipated at this time, Mr. Chair. It is -- you know, has been drafted, I believe has or will be going to committee for their consideration and -- before being implemented. It's a tool that's used to help bring a lens of understanding on some of the submissions that come through as decision papers to see whether or what impacts from a macro economic lens things are having. But if I could, Mr. Chair, just on detail of sort of the next steps, I'll...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So Mr. Chair, there's both. They do have funds that they are -- that they administer that can be accessed by project proponents but there's also significant policies that they have been working on over the last several years, namely, to have a new regulatory or policy approach for the North and that scenario where we have remained active in terms of ensuring our view of wanting to have a competitive industry but also one that provides reliability and affordability and trying to find that balance here in the North where we are -- obviously have comparably limited access to...

Yes, please, Mr. Chair.